The crisis erupted in early 1990s and there is the urgent need for all parties to embrace peace. Successive governments including this administration expressed sincere concerns over peaceful resolution of the lingering crisis between Aladja in Udu Local Government and Ogbe-Ijaw in Warri South West Local Government.
The recent claim by the President of Delta Ijaw Comrade Community, Princewill Binebai, that the state government under Senator Dr Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, did little or nothing to resolve the lingering crisis within the last six years is not correct. In fact, government took proactive steps to resolve the crisis.
In May 2016, the state government inaugurated 8-man Panel of Inquiry to look at the issues and recommend lasting solutions to the crisis. The panel engaged all stakeholders and visited the locus in quo, to practically document facts based on historical and legal evidence.
And in 2018, government White Paper, WP, was issued and the governor, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, assured that it will be implemented to satisfy all parties as resolved at the enlarged meeting with all parties in Warri, and as encapsulated in the White Paper.
Government is working on the implementation and it is expected that all parties maintain status quo, pending full implementation. Issues have been resolved in the WP and there is no need for further altercations and resumed or fresh violence.
Peace is priceless, and it is the collective responsibility of all stakeholders, youth groups and traditional institutions to champion efforts for peaceful coexistence in all communities across the state.
Let it be known that it is not the sole responsibility of government to initiate peace moves. Leaders of local groups across divide can also facilitate peace moves, reconcile themselves/communities and reach amicable settlements for sustainable peaceful coexistence.
It is evil by all intents and purposes to politicize community crisis. Every community consists of all classes of people, and they belong to different political parties. But politics should never be infused into boundary disputes and other community issues as can be seen from the Aladja and Ogbe-Ijaw clashes.
The state security council at divert times devoted quality time and resources to resolve the Aladja and Ogbe-Ijaw crisis. Therefore, it will be unjust and very unfair to say that this administration and the governor, Senator Okowa, paid lip service towards resolving the crisis.
Delta State has been adjudged as one of the most peaceful state in Nigeria under Okowa administration, and the Aladja-Ogbe Ijaw crisis was successfully resolved in 2018, and the White Paper will be implemented by government within a reasonable time.
While reconciled parties await the full implementation of the WP, it is strongly advised that people of both communities, Aladja and Ogbe-Ijaw should embrace peace and maintain status quo, while government sets in motion strategies for the full implementation within a reasonable time.
Finally, it will be out of place to relate every person to person conflict or misunderstanding or criminal breach of peace to Aladja and Ogbe-Ijaw crisis. There could be individuals or groups crisis that may have nothing to do with the already resolved Aladja-Ogbe Ijaw community crisis.
Therefore, every violence in Aladja or Ogbe Ijaw must be properly investigated before linking same to community crisis in the two local governments of Udu and Warri South West.
Let’s embrace peace, peace is priceless!